KU identifies grad student killed Saturday

Kristen Holmes

The Kansas University student who died over the weekend after being struck by a pickup truck has been identified as Dimitri Mavridorakis, 23, a graduate student from Saint-Étienne, France.

Mavridorakis was helping a friend with car trouble along Shawnee Mission Parkway in Merriam when a Dodge Dakota drove up from behind and hit him.

Mavridorakis was working on a Master of Business Administration and was attending KU on a scholarship exchange program. He was one of 80 in his class, and those who knew him said they would miss his sense of humor and intellect.

“Because we are such a close-knit, small program … we do feel like we are part of a family,” said Nick Arthachinda, a friend and president of the Graduate Business Council. “Losing Dimitri is more than just one fewer person in the class.”

Mavridorakis’ family will arrive later in the week and the KU School of Business is planning a memorial service around the visit.

KU Chancellor Robert Hemenway said in a press release: “On behalf of the entire university community, I offer deepest sympathies to the friends and family of Dimitri Mavridorakis. Our hearts go out to them at this time.”

Steven Cummins, a 25-year-old Shawnee man, was arrested and charged with involuntary manslaughter and driving under the influence shortly after the incident. Cummins is being held in Johnson County Adult Detention Center on a $250,000 bond.